Note 135 — NOTES ON PARISHES ROUND HORNCASTLE. (continued 4)

Mills almost invariably belonged to the lord of the manor, and were a source of considerable profit, as at these only were the tenants allowed to have their grain ground. As an evidence of their value it may be mentioned that the Bishop of Worcester had, in the parish of Stratford, two carucates of land, or 240 acres, which were rated at 20s., whereas a mill belonging to him, yielded 100s. He let his land at the annual rent of 5d. per acre, but his mill was let for £5. When the Conqueror’s Commissioners visited Lincolnshire, there were between 400 and 500 mills in the county.